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Sunday, August 4, 2013

2 Guns: A Blast From The Past

Summer time is known for big box office blockbusters, but what it needs more of are fun, action-packed popcorn flicks. 2 Guns is exactly that. What feels like a throwback to the action films of the 80's and 90's (e.g. Beverly Hills Cop, Bad Boys), 2 Guns dishes out equal parts humor and action, while keeping the gritty, R-rated vibe they were going for.

Based on a series of graphic novels of the same name by Steven Grant, 2 Guns follows a pair of undercover law enforcement agents on the trail of a Mexican drug lord. The twist? Neither agent is aware that the other is undercover. Denzel Washington plays sauve DEA agent Robert "Bobby" Trench, who is unwittingly paired up with Navy Intelligence officer Michael "Stig" Stigman, played by Mark Wahlberg. The chemistry these two have on screen is undeniable to anyone who watched even the slightest amount of this film. They're able to play off each other in such a way that makes you believe these guys got along off-set as well as on, probably going out for drinks after shooting their scenes.

At the helm of this film is Icelandic director, Baltasar Kormakur. He previously worked with Wahlberg on last years action-thriller, Contraband. Although 2 Guns is obviously brighter and bolder in terms of color palette and tone, Kormakur's sense of action is definitely seen throughout. From explosions, gun fights, and a great car chase/fight-through-two-vehicles scene (part of which is shown in the trailer), 2 Guns delivers all the necessary action for a fun summer movie.

Although the name of this movie is 2 Guns, there are definitely more than two great actors in it. Paula Patton (Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol) costars as Deb, Bobby's DEA handler and sometimes-girlfriend. Patton previously worked with Washington in the 2006 sci-fi thriller, Deja Vu. We also saw Edward James Olmos (Battlestar Galactica) as drug kingpin Papi Greco, James Marsden (X-Men) as Stig's commanding officer, and Bill Paxton (Aliens, Twister) as a sadistic and mysterious CIA operative named Earl.

2 Guns may be a fun summer action flick, but it's not without its flaws. My one major problem with this movie was the unnecessarily complicated script. I spent the first 30-45 minutes of this film confused about the actual plot. Whether the writer meant to keep us in the dark or not, I can't say, but even though it felt convoluted at times, I still enjoyed the ride from beginning to end. The acting ability and chemistry between the two leads allowed me to push through any slow or confusing points and really enjoy this film. If you are looking to sit down and have a good time for 110 minutes, I would definitely recommend checking out this movie.